Out-of-band voice communication with interactive voice response services during gameplay

• US 8,177,643 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yuzo, Springer, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): WASEL, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US12/328,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 463/40, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video

Abstract

While executing a game program, a game console determines that a user wishes to issue a voice command through a headset or other audio input/output device connected to the console. The game console switches the communication channel for the audio input/output device from the game program to a voice recognition engine without interrupting the execution of the game program on the console. The voice command is then forwarded from the audio input/output device to the voice recognition engine.

Claims

1. A method for providing out-of-band voice communication with external services during gameplay on a game console, the method comprising:

detecting at the game console a signal from a user indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command;

upon detecting the signal, switching via a switching mechanism in the game console a connection of an audio input/output (“

I/O”

) device connected to the game console from an in-band game communication channel to an out-of-band communication channel established with a voice recognition engine; and

forwarding the voice command from the audio I/O device to the voice recognition engine via the out-of-band communication channel for processing of the voice command by the voice recognition engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements of detecting, switching, and forwarding are performed without interrupting an execution of a game program on the game console.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command comprises a button press of one or more buttons on a game controller attached to the game console.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio I/O device comprises a headset connected to the game console.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises a software module executing on the game console.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises an external computer connected to the game console via a network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing of the voice command comprises establishing a telephone connection between the audio I/O device attached to the game console and a telephone device located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing of the voice command comprises establishing a connection between the audio I/O device attached to the game console and a voice portal service located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein processing of the voice command comprises establishing a connection between the audio I/O device attached to the game console and an interactive voice response system located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

10. A computer readable storage medium that is not a signal, the computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

detect a signal indicating a user of the computer wishes to issue a voice command;

upon detecting the signal, switch a connection of an audio input/output (“

I/O”

) device connected to the computer from an in-band game communication channel to an out-of-band communication channel established with a voice recognition engine; and

forward the voice command from the audio I/O device to the voice recognition engine via the out-of-band communication channel for processing of the voice command by the voice recognition engine.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the computer performs the elements of detecting, switching, and forwarding without interrupting a game program executing on the computer.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the signal indicating the user wishes to issue a voice command comprises a button press of one or more buttons on a game controller attached to the computer.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the audio I/O device comprises a headset connected to the computer.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein processing of the voice command comprises establishing a telephone connection between the audio I/O device attached to the computer and a telephone device located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein processing of the voice command comprises establishing a connection between the audio I/O device attached to the computer and one of a voice portal service and an interactive voice response system located on a network via the out-of-band communication channel.

16. A system for providing out-of-band voice communication with external services during gameplay, the system comprising:

a game console having an attached audio input/output (“

I/O”

) device and a switching mechanism, the game console operative to

detect a signal indicating a user of the game console wishes to issue a voice command;

upon detecting the signal, utilize the switching mechanism to switch a connection of the audio I/O device from an in-band game communication channel to an out-of-band communication channel established with a voice recognition engine;

forward the voice command from the audio I/O device to the voice recognition engine via the out-of-band communication channel for processing of the voice command by the voice recognition engine; and

upon completion of the processing of the voice command, utilizing the switching mechanism to switch the connection of the audio I/O device from the out-of-band communication channel to the in-band game communication channel.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the game console is operative to detect the signal and switch the connection without interrupting a game program executing on the game console.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises a software module executing on the game console.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the voice recognition engine comprises an external computer connected to the game console via a network.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the game console is further operative to keep the in-band game communication channel alive during the switching of the connection of the audio I/O device and the processing of the voice command.